TF13: Playmates Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

At Toy Fair this year Playmates devoted an entire booth space to their hit line of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles which has exploded since its inception last year. We were lucky enough to get a tour of the premises and a rundown of the upcoming releases for 2013. First off are the large 11 inch scale Battle Shell Turtles featuring the four main characters, each with an opening shell where you’ll find storage space for his accessories. Meanwhile, in the bread and butter Basic line of figures Playmates will be releasing new figures throughout the year, with no fewer than 31 different figures on deck for this year! On display were everything from Mutagen Ooze Launching Turtles to Snakeweed, Stealth Turtles, and even an unmasked Shredder.

The collector-favorite Classic line started with the foursome and in the summer will add Bebop and Rocksteady; those figures too will stand approximately 6 inches tall with excellent articulation and come on retro blister cards. Meanwhile, cute mini “Turtles in Training” figures will arrive this year in two-packs, and the Deluxe figures continue to offer heftier figures with more action features.

Since it plays such an important role in the cartoon, Mutagen Ooze has been incorporated across the product lines. On its own the blue ooze is available in cool cannisters, each of which also contains a bonus mini-turtle. Standard figures like the Turtles with Ooze Launching backpacks can interact with the squishy substance, while various vehicles include ooze functionality like the Dropcopter and Sewer Cruiser. Other upcoming vehicles are the Hover Drone with launching missiles and the Patrol Buggies; sold in pairs the four can combine and shoot missiles. Another line brings small vehicles with figures like the Dragon Chopper and Turtle ATV with exclusive Leonardo. Finally, a new IR R/C Shellraiser is coming in the Fall ($50) with full range of motion and remote controlled firing discs!

One of the neat things Playmates is doing with the Turtles line is including playsets. The Pop-Up Pizza playsets come in a pizza box shape and unfold into different environments with fun action features like places for figures to swing and trap doors. Available now is the Anchovy Alley, and coming soon is the headquarters of the Turtles’ nemesis: Shredder Supreme. Finally, last year’s award winning TRU exclusive Secret Sewer Lair Playset goes wide in 2013. This thing is over 40 inches tall, has 20+ features, can hold over 50 figures, and connects to other playsets!

And just for the kids Playmates is also continuing its line of TMNT role-play items with Ninja Combat Gear (character specific weapon and bandana), talking Turtle Communicator, Masks, electronic weapons, and Combat Shell backpacks.